MEO’s 6th Gala fundraiser to be held March 22 is sold out
Maui Economic Opportunity’s 6th Gala, the agency’s largest annual fundraiser set for March 22, is sold out.
MEO thanks sponsors of the gathering to be held at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapu that is expected to draw more than 250 people.
The event honors Grant Chun, recently retired Hale Mahaolu Executive Director, former MEO Board President and community leader, and MEO’s 60th anniversary. The nonprofit agency was chartered on March 22, 1965, as one of more than a thousand anti-poverty Community Action Agencies across the nation.
The evening has a Chinese theme, based on the proverb “Happiness Lies in Helping Others,” to honor Grant’s Chinese heritage. There also will be exhibits and a video marking MEO’s history and current programs; entertainment; an auction and Raise The Paddle; and speeches by government leaders and top sponsors.
While the sponsorships are sold out, MEO continues to solicit items for the auction. Local businesses interested in supporting MEO can contact Executive Assistant Lauren Amano at 808-243-4306 or lauren.amano@meoinc.org.
MEO did not stage the Gala in 2024, not wanting to divert public giving away from wildfires relief efforts. But this year, with threats to federal funding for MEO’s programs, the Gala has become an especially important source of discretionary funding for the agency and its programs on Maui, including Hana; Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi.
“MEO is very grateful for the community’s support this year and for the last six decades,” said CEO Debbie Cabebe. “Our reach has grown from two programs in 1965 to more than 30 today, helping people in need survive, stabilize and thrive.”
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